ADAPTIVE ABILITIES

SPECIAL ABILITIES

SIDELINE SPIRIT INCLUSION

Inclusion Opportunities in Cheer

Move United Inclusive Champion Logo

USA Cheer is proud to be a Move United Inclusive Champion

Cheerleading is a diverse community of members. These athletes inspire and lead their communities through their teamwork, leadership and social relationships to a wider world of human talents and potential!

Through sports, ALL athletes find accomplishment, confidence, and fulfillment – on the playing field and in life.

Uniting athletes helps bond communities and understand relationships. Building confidence of athletes inspires and leads to better communities. Mental and physical health is acquired through access to sports.

Access to sports training and athletic competition for athletes with disabilities, their families, and communities will foster new strengths, abilities, skills, and success for everyone.

Special Olympics is a global sports movement of people creating a new world of inclusion and community, where every single person is accepted and welcomed, regardless of ability or disability.

We are helping to make the world a better, healthier and more joyful place—one athlete, one volunteer, one family member at a time.

Competitive Cheer became a Recognized Sport in March 2019 and offers competition for both Special Olympics traditional and Unified teams. Athletes can show their spirit in Routine and Game Day events through four levels of competition!

Learn more about the various inclusion opportunities there are in cheer

INCLUSION IN CHEER: Empowering Through Unity 

Inclusive cheerleading is a dynamic, empowering sport that opens the door for athletes of all abilities to shine. It fosters a sense of belonging and celebrates diversity, welcoming individuals with a range of physical, intellectual, and developmental abilities to participate. 

By emphasizing teamwork, confidence-building, and personal growth, inclusive cheer creates a supportive environment where everyone can contribute, excel, and experience the joy of sports. This movement not only highlights each athlete’s unique strengths but also enriches the entire cheer community, fostering friendships and understanding across diverse backgrounds and abilities.

In inclusive cheer, athletes have two main pathways: competitive and non-competitive (sideline) cheer. 

Competitive inclusive cheer teams focus on training for structured routines and performances, participating in local, regional, national, and even international competitions. These teams offer athletes the excitement of competition, the chance to set performance goals, and the opportunity to showcase their skills to a larger audience. 

Non-competitive inclusive cheer, on the other hand, emphasizes spirit and support at live sporting events, with sideline cheer teams engaging crowds, rallying for school or community teams, and fostering an inclusive environment through a shared love of cheer. 

Both pathways celebrate the unique talents of each athlete, enabling participants to find their fit in an inclusive, supportive cheer community.

Options for joining an inclusive cheer team for competition are growing, especially with more organizations and competitions adopting inclusive divisions. Here are some key avenues:

  1. Move United Adaptive Cheer Programs: Move United is a national organization that partners with local adaptive sports programs to provide inclusive cheer opportunities for individuals with disabilities. While Move United doesn’t directly organize competitive cheer teams, it connects athletes with community-based adaptive cheer programs that may offer performances and exhibitions at local or regional events.
  2. Special Olympics Unified Sports: Offers Unified Cheerleading teams where athletes with and without intellectual disabilities cheer together. Special Olympics hosts competitions that allow inclusive cheer teams to perform and compete. Athletes train for one competition in a Season and have the opportunity to compete at third party events.
  3. All-Star Cheer Gyms with Inclusive Programs: Some cheer gyms offer CheerAbilities programs, supported by the USASF. These adaptive cheer teams include athletes with a variety of abilities and can compete in regional and national cheer events.
  4. School-Based Unified Cheer Teams: Many middle and high schools have adopted Unified Cheer programs under initiatives like Unified Sports. These teams perform at school events and sometimes participate in Unified competitions or showcases.
  5. Local and Regional Cheer Competitions: Some major cheer organizations, like Varsity All Star and NCA, have divisions specifically for inclusive teams, allowing adaptive teams to compete and perform alongside traditional teams.
  6. Recreational and Community Cheer Programs: Community centers, YMCAs, and other local organizations often have inclusive cheer programs with opportunities for performance and, sometimes, informal competition. These programs focus on inclusion and skill development rather than formal competitive structures.

Inclusive sideline cheer options are widely available, especially through schools, community programs, and sports organizations that embrace Unified Sports and adaptive cheer teams. Here are the main options:

  1. Special Olympics Sideline Cheer: In addition to competition teams, some Special Olympics programs offer sideline cheer teams that participate at Special Olympics sporting events, cheering on athletes in various sports. These teams are fully inclusive, with members cheering at events within the Special Olympics community.
  2. Move United Adaptive Sideline Cheer: Move United partners with community-based adaptive sports programs to offer inclusive cheer options. While Move United itself doesn’t organize cheer teams, they connect athletes to local adaptive sports organizations that may have sideline cheer programs.
  3. School-Based Unified Sideline Cheer: Many middle and high schools have developed Unified cheer programs where athletes with and without disabilities cheer together at school sports events. These teams support school spirit at games and pep rallies, creating an inclusive environment for students of all abilities.
  4. All-Star Cheer Gyms with CheerAbilities Sideline Teams: Some All-Star gyms offer adaptive teams that focus on sideline cheer rather than competitive routines. These teams perform at local events and may also support community sports teams, providing athletes with disabilities a chance to participate in cheer without a competitive focus.
  5. Community-Based and Recreational Programs: Community centers, YMCAs, and recreation departments often host inclusive or adaptive cheer programs focused on sideline cheering. These teams typically perform at local sports events and focus on building confidence, teamwork, and community spirit.
  6. Collegiate Inclusive Cheer Programs: Some colleges have adopted inclusive sideline cheer programs to support school sports and encourage diversity within their cheer teams. This is a growing area, particularly as more universities focus on accessibility and inclusivity in athletics.

Inclusive cheerleading provides athletes of all abilities the chance to participate fully, whether through the thrill of competition or the team spirit of sideline cheer. By offering both competitive and non-competitive options, inclusive cheer empowers each athlete to find their unique role, build confidence, and create lasting friendships. 

This sport champions diversity, belonging, and the belief that everyone has something valuable to contribute. Inclusive cheer not only elevates individuals but also strengthens communities, showing that the power of teamwork and positive energy has no boundaries.

MOVE UNITED PODCAST

“Redefining Disability” is an award-winning weekly podcast launched to focus on the power of sport. A great resource for listeners interested and involved in the adaptive sports field, Move United is looking forward to sharing how sports have made it possible for our nation’s top adaptive athletes, training tips from the best coaches and program leaders, and news on latest technology, equipment, and trends in the industry. 

Listen to USA Cheer’s very own Adaptive Director, Lee Trudell, and US National Adaptive Abilities Team Athlete, Keely Icardi’s podcast episodes! 

Lee Trudell, USA Cheer Adaptive Director
“There is Always Something Going On”

Keely Icardi, US National Adaptive Abilities Team Athlete
“I Was a Dancer Before My Accident”

NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT: A Look at Inclusive Cheer on Good Morning America

In 2024, Good Morning America highlighted the inspiring story of inclusive cheer, showcasing how athletes with intellectual and physical disabilities are breaking barriers in the world of cheerleading. The segment featured teams from Special Olympics Cheer, Special Abilities Cheer, and Adaptive Abilities Cheer, each demonstrating the power of teamwork, resilience, and community support. This national spotlight celebrated the joy and confidence that inclusive cheer brings to athletes and their families, underscoring the vital role of programs like those at USA Cheer, Special Olympics, and Move United in making sports accessible for all.

Training Resources

Coaching Athletes with a Disability

Special Athlete Safety & Risk Management

Athlete Protection – Coaches Course

Athlete Protection – Athlete Course

Athlete Protection – Parent Course

For more information on including athletes with special abilities or starting any of these programs, contact us at info@usacheer.org!